President's Car Attacked in Senegal

VOA News
14 February 2012

Protesters angered by Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade's decision to run for a third term pelted his car with rocks Wednesday, forcing him to abandon the vehicle.

Mr. Wade was campaigning in the town of Nguegnene. Witnesses tell VOA the president's guards attacked some of the protesters. They reacted by throwing rocks at the president's car, shattering its windows.

He was forced to take another car to his next scheduled campaign stop at an arena in the town of Rufisque. Demonstrators there killed cows and threw the blood around the stadium, forcing the president to cancel his speech.

Earlier Wednesday, police used tear gas against hundreds of protesters who tried to march to the presidential palace in Dakar.

The 85-year-old Mr. Wade is running for a third term, despite a two-term limit in the constitution. A court ruled last month that the limit did not apply to him because it took effect after he was first elected in 2000.

Thirteen candidates are competing against Mr. Wade in the February 26 vote, including his former allies Macky Sall and Idrissa Seck. A run-off will be held if no one wins a majority. Dakar has seen frequent protests since the campaign began.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.